OINP’s Expression of Interest system launching in April

Apr 9, 2021 / 3 min readspscanada

New OINP Expression of Interest System Launches in April

Following recent amendments to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, an interactive training session took place with the OINP Operations team on April 8, 2021. During this session, officials confirmed that five immigration streams would move to an Expression of Interest (EOI) system.

If you are unfamiliar with EOI or the recent changes, you may want to review the earlier update on OINP amendments. Below, we highlight the most important changes discussed during the session.

Immigration Streams Moving to Expression of Interest

The EOI system applies to the following streams under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program:

  • Employer Job Offer – Foreign Worker Stream
  • Employer Job Offer – International Student Stream
  • Employer Job Offer – In-Demand Skills Stream
  • Master’s Graduate Stream
  • PhD Graduate Stream

These changes mark a shift toward a more structured and competitive selection process.

EOI Requirements and Eligibility

The eligibility criteria for each stream remain unchanged. Therefore, candidates who qualified under the previous system will still qualify under EOI.

However, each stream will use different scoring factors. As a result, candidates should review stream-specific requirements carefully before registering.

EOI Scoring Factors and Profile Creation

Candidates must first create an OINP profile using a personal email address and phone number. After that, they may appoint an authorized representative to manage their EOI profile.

The EOI system ranks candidates using several factors. Not all factors apply to every stream. The main scoring categories include:

  • Labour market and employment factors
  • Education
  • Language ability
  • Location of employment or study
  • Strategic priorities set by Ontario

Ontario will release a detailed scoring breakdown on the OINP website.

To submit an EOI, candidates provide basic details about education, skills, work experience, and language proficiency. The system then scores and ranks profiles within the pool.

Candidates selected from the pool receive an Invitation to Apply.

Phased Launch of the EOI System

Ontario will introduce the EOI system in two phases.

In the first phase, Ontario will launch EOI for:

  • Employer Job Offer – International Student Stream
  • Employer Job Offer – Foreign Worker Stream

This phase begins in April.

In the second phase, Ontario will launch EOI for:

  • Employer Job Offer – In-Demand Skills Stream
  • Master’s Graduate Stream
  • PhD Graduate Stream

The second phase is expected to begin in the summer. At this time, Ontario has not announced exact launch dates.

Expression of Interest Draws

Ontario has not yet confirmed how often EOI draws will take place. However, officials expect to release more details in the coming weeks.

Validity of an EOI Profile

An Expression of Interest remains valid for 12 months. Candidates may withdraw their profile at any time.

Importantly, each applicant can submit only one EOI per stream at a time.

Why Ontario Introduced the EOI System

Ontario introduced EOI to respond more effectively to labour market needs. The system allows the province to select candidates based on demand rather than application speed.

As a result, employers gain access to skilled workers more efficiently. At the same time, applicants benefit from a more predictable and transparent selection process.

How SPS Canada Immigration Can Help

SPS Canada Immigration stays up to date with all changes in Canadian immigration policy. Our team provides accurate guidance and timely updates on OINP streams.

If you have questions about the new EOI system or want to apply under any OINP stream, expert support can make a difference.

Start your assessment today or contact us at:

With proper planning and guidance, the new OINP Expression of Interest system can become a strong pathway to permanent residence in Ontario.

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